Terminal box



E. BAGULEY Feb. 6, 1934.

TERMINAL BOX Filed Dec. 25, 1929 //vz//vr0/9 E. BAGULE) BY 21 ac maid ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITD STATES PATENT FFEQE TERNHNAL BOX York Application December 23, 1929, Serial No. 415,990, and in Great Britain February 14, 1929 3 Claims.

This invention relates to terminal boxes for telephone and like cables and more particularly to structures of this character which are adapted to distribute conductors fanned out from electric cables.

An object is to provide a cable terminal box which is compact and simple in design, which requires minimum expense in its manufacture and maintenance and which is substantially weather proof.

A feature of the invention is a cable terminal comprising a base having an opening for a cable and openings for the drop wires to be connected to the cable conductors and a head of moulded insulation supported on the base provided with moulded projections forming fanning strips for the drop wires.

Another feature of aterminal box according to this invention is that the fanning strips are an integral part of the terminal head.

Yet another feature is that the terminal binding posts are moulded into the cable head.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable terminal box comprising a single piece moulded insulation cable head having projections which form the fanning strips and with the terminals embodied in the insulation, the terminals which are located on the front face in four columns being moulded into position on raised brushes so as not to project through the back of the panel. Conical holes on the back of the panel lead to the central bore provided in that the terminals through which the cable conductors are led, be soldered at the front end of the terminals. The cable head is fixed on the base by means of two screws embedded in the bottom of the moulded cable head. The drop wires pass out through holes in the base piece located on either side of the cable head. A cover is provided to protect the terminals from atmospheric effects or other damage.

In an alternative arrangement the farming strips are formed by projections projecting sideways instead of forward.

The binding post can be provided at the front end with a saw cut into which the conductor wire can be bent to retain it into position pre vious to soldering and also to form means to retain the tightening nuts.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof for consideration in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the cable ter minal box constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 shows the side elevation partly in section of the cable terminal box shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an underneath plan view of the terminal cable box shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the moulded cable head shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of 21. alternative design of the cable head.

Fig. 6 shows the terminal binding post constructed according to this invention moulded into the insulation.

In the drawing numeral (1) represents a having its front and rear portions of longer dimensions than its sides on which the cable terminal head (2) is supported. The base (1) which may be composed of metal such cast iron is provided with an integral depending bracket (3) having openings (4.) through which screws or bolts pass to rigidly secure it into position. An opening (5) is provided in the base through which the cable gland (6) of metal such as or :s fixed into the cable head (2) projects. This cable gland (6) may be fixed to the cable terminal box (2) by means of crew thread (31). The cpening (5) and the cable gland (6) are so positioned into the base (1) as to permit the cable to lie close to the bracket (3) so that there will be no projecting loop in the cable.

The lead sheath of the cable to be connected to the terminal box is sweat-ed to the cable gland (6) after which the gland (6) is screwed into threaded hole (31) in the of the cable moulding (2).

The cable terminal head (2) consists of a single piece or block of moulded insulation. This block 2) is of such shape and form as to provide simultaneously a sealing chamber ("1). fanning strips (8), distance pieces (9) and having the terminal (1) binding posts 14 and fixing screws (11) moulded into it. The terminal binding posts 14 which are all mounted on one, the front face of the cable head (2) are moulded into the cable head (.2) on raised bushes (12) which arrange ment reduces the possibility of leakage due to condensation of moisture on the cable head. The binding post (is) can be arranged in four rows longitudinally, each row being staggered in respect to the others to facilitate the connection of the drop wires to the ter The fanning strips are is med by a series of teeth or projections (8) projecting forward as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 or sideways. as shown in Fig. 5, and extend longitudinally for the entire length of the cable head. each pair of binding posts (14) appearing on the face or the cable head (2) there is provided an opening formed by two adjacent teeth (8) of the fanning strip. The drop wires connected to the binding posts are placed in between the projections (8) nearest to the terminals and then passed through the openings (17) provided for the purpose in the base. Designation strips (13) of ivorine or other suitable material are fixed on each side of the cable head moulding (2) for the purpose of recording thereon particulars of the conductors.

The preferred form of terminal binding posts (14) shown is of the hollow type and is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The binding posts consist essentially of a shank (10) provided with a central bore (15) through which the cable conductor (16) passes from the sealing chamber (7) to the front end of the binding post (14) where it is soldered into the soldering cup (18). Usually the soldering can be carried out in such a manner that the solder slightly overflows the cup and forms retaining means for the nut (20). The front end of the binding post (14) can be provided with a cut ('19) of appropriate size into which the cable conductor (16) can be bent and where it can be retained until soldered. The bending of the conductor wire (16) in this manner provides a very easy and effective means of preventing the withdrawal or slackening of the cable conductor back into the sealing chamber previous to the soldering. A further advantage of this arrangement is that the cut end of the cable conductor can be made to project beyond the thread of the shank and thus form when soldered a most effective alternate means for retaining the tightening nut (20) on the binding post (14). The front end of the binding post (14) is provided with a counter-sunk hole (18) to form a soldering cup. The terminal binding post (14) is provided with a customary tightening nut (20) and a plurality of washers (21) to hold the drop wires in clamped position when the nut is tightened. There may also be provided a threaded washer or nut (22) which when tightened down on to the bushing which carries the binding post offers a good electric contact surface to the drop wire to be connected. The use of this threaded washer or nut (22) would facilitate the fixing of drop wires as it would be unnecessary to carefully separate the washers (21) in order to insert the drop wires in between them to ensure a good electric contact.

The panel of the cable head (2) which carries the binding post (14) is provided in its rear face with counter-sunk holes (24) through which the cable conductors (16) can pass into the bore (15) of the binding post.

With this construction no metal projects into the sealing chamber and if the metal conductors are not bared of their insulation for a greater length than actually enters the binding post bore (15) chances of short circuit within the sealing chamber are very greatly reduced.

The sealing chamber (7) is closed by a back plate (25) of any suitable material such as for instance galvanized sheet iron which back plate 25 is held in position by screws (26) fitted into tapped holes provided for the purpose in the cable head moulding (2). The back plate (25) may be of a width equal to that at the base (1) so that its edges form a guide for the cover (27) In practice it is customary after the cable conductors are fixed to the binding post to fill the sealing chamber with an insulation and sealing compound to more completely waterproof the cable head.

The cable head is protected against damage and weather by a cover (2'7) of suitable material such as for instance galvanized sheet iron. This cover (27) is of such dimensions as to fix snugly over the entire cable head (2) and extends over the base to such an extent that its lower edge is flush with the bottom of the base (1). The cover (27) is centered by distance pieces or projections (9) formed on the cable head to keep the cover (2'1) out of contact with the terminal binding posts (10). A chain (28) is fixed to a lug (30) on the cover (27) and a lug (29) on the base (1) to hold the cover (27) suspended when it is removed from its position.

It is pointed out that by adopting the construc tion described by placing the moulded portion and without joints above the base and enclosing them in a weather-proof housing formed by a base (1) and cover (27), the enclosed elements including the binding post are fully protected from dirt and are substantially unaffected by atmospheric conditions.

Although the invention has been described with regard to one embodiment thereof we do not limit ourselves to this form as many modifications not indicated in the specification readily suggest themselves to those versed in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable terminal comprising a base having an opening therein for the entrance of a cable, and other openings for the admittance of drop wires, a single panel of molded insulation material mounted on said base, hollow terminals for connecting said cable to said drop wires molded in said panel and projecting only through the front side thereof, said panel having apertures on the rear side thereof in alignment with said terminals, serrated edges on said panel for fanning out said drop wires, and rearwardly extending sides, a back plate, said back plate being secured to said sides to form with said rearwardly extending sides a sealing chamber.

2. A cable terminal comprising a base having an opening therein for the entrance of a cable, and other openings for the admittance of drop wires, a single panel of molded insulation material mounted on said base, hollow terminals for connecting said cable to said drop wires molded in said panel and projecting only through the front side thereof, threaded members molded in the bottom of said panel for securing said panel to said base, said panel having apertures on the rear side thereof in alignment with said terminals, serrated edges on said panel for farming out said drop wires, and rearwardly extending sides, a back plate, said back plate being secured to said sides to form with said rearwarly extending sides a sealing chamber.

3. A cable terminal comprising a base having an opening therein for the entrance of a cable and other openings for the admittance of drop wires, a panel of molded insulating material having a substantially I-shaped cross-section mounted on said base, hollow terminals for connecting said cable to said drop wires molded in said I- shaped panel and projecting only through the front side of said panel, said panel having apertures on the rear side thereof in alignment with said terminals, a back plate, the rearwardly extending sides of the I-shaped panel being continuous and forming with said plate a sealing chamber and the front edges being serrated to form means for fanning out the drop wires.

ERIC BAGULEY. 

